The International Magnesium Association (IMA) 2017 World Magnesium Congress will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore from May 21 to 23. The 74-year-old annual gathering of the world's magnesium industry is back in Asia again. IMA expects more people to participate. Different from previous overseas conferences, this year, bilingual simultaneous interpretation (Chinese and English) will be specially arranged to facilitate the participation and communication of people in the Chinese magnesium industry. At this conference, there will be the latest information and progress brought by industry experts, including magnesium process, application, technology and environmental protection. Arrangements during the conference include: technical special reports, industry progress reports, speeches by outstanding award winners, magnesium industry supplier display receptions, banquets, coffee breaks, member-only gatherings and other exchange activities.
The special report of the conference has just been finalized and announced as follows:
Session 1: Global Magnesium Industry and Market
1. Global primary magnesium supply and demand balance
Alan Clark, CM Group
2016 was a surprising year for many alkali and minor metals industries, especially in the second half of the year, when several markets experienced significant and unexpected supply and demand volatility. The magnesium market has also experienced periods of volatility, driven by the continued impact of fluctuating inventories in China and a chronic oversupply. CM Group will analyze the supply and demand balance of the global magnesium industry in 2016 in the context of its independent analysis and professional data. The detailed supply to China will again be the basis for the analysis of this presentation, including the overproduction and low utilization factors that are being experienced. The analysis will include changes in production locations and costs, as well as capacity closures and start-ups.
At the same time, this report will once again analyze the needs, historical and current trends of different industries around the world, including the impact of inefficient economic activities in China. Forecast data for Chinese and global demand will be broken down by industry. This report will cover historical changes in magnesium pricing in recent years and comparisons with similar metals, as well as key price systems used in the industry, such as the ferrosilicon price and the magnesium-aluminum price ratio. This report will reflect the 2016 global production cost curve, as well as new and potential non-Chinese supply markets and new global smelting processes.
2. Japan's current magnesium technology and application
ShogoHirano, Japan Magnesium Association
1) Supply and demand. Demand remained at 38,000 tons in 2016, but is expected to grow to 46,000 tons in 2017 due to increased demand for automobiles. Trends in import and export statistics (2000 - 2016) by category.
2) Activities of the Japan Magnesium Association (JMA). The Japan Magnesium Association is an organization that supports the development of the magnesium market in Japan. It contributes to the research and development activities of its members and its collaboration with universities and associations around the world, it runs several committees and symposia, and shares current industry news with the International Magnesium Association (IMA).
3) Brief introduction of existing technology and application (1) Material: ax0503 alloy can increase the extrusion speed. Rare earth can significantly enhance the strength of the alloy. Dimensionally stable magnesium alloy. Rare earth-free flame retardant alloy used on high-speed railways. Commercial applications of UH alloys. (2) Process: Thixoforming process has accelerated the expansion of European cars. Commercial use of Sumitomo Electric's AZ91D cast plate.
4) Magnesium application: magnesium battery, audio cable and medical drawing tube, etc.
3. Overview of Global Magnesium Market
NigelTunna, Argus UK Argus Market Media
Will provide an overview of the global magnesium market over the past twelve months, focusing on some key factors. Attention will also be paid to the international magnesium price quotation method and operation mode to be adopted in China and other countries and regions.
4. Magnesium and titanium production at Solikamsk magnesium plant in Russia
SZD/SMW, Solikamsk, Russia
The report includes: the history of titanium sponge production in the Soviet Union; the general situation of titanium sponge production in the CIS countries - including the description of sponge titanium technology and the utilization of magnesium in titanium processing; the production technology of sponge titanium in Solikamsk magnesium plant; project history and actual situation; Russia, Titanium production in Kazakhstan and Ukraine and outlook for titanium and magnesium production.
Special Session 2: Automotive Magnesium Application
5. More attention to China's auto market -- not just the world's largest market
Martin Tauber, Fauris Management
Donnie Yen, Xi'an Magontec Magnesium
The actual forecast for car sales in China is 23.1 million units and is expected to grow by a further 5% in 2017 to 24.2 million units, making China the largest car market today. The auto industry is one of the main pillars of the Chinese economy, and the government will continue to regulate the auto industry in various ways. This presentation will give an overview of the development and prospects of the Chinese auto market, and introduce foreign joint ventures and their strategies. A combination of examples shows that such a relevant long-term strategy also makes China a strong global player. The recent Geely/Volvo case illustrates this: “This move to bring manufacturing under one roof is the latest move to strengthen Volvo and Geely ties by transferring advanced European technology to Geely while keeping the Swedish automaker business and reputation.”
6. Japan expands the application of magnesium in the automotive industry
HiroyukiNakamura, Tokai Rika, Daisuke Konishi, Tokai Rika, Tokai Rika
With the rise of the global environmental protection and energy saving movement, the automobile industry has taken measures to improve fuel consumption efficiency, which is crucial to the development of the automobile industry, and every country and region has taken action to this end. The report covers recent Japanese industry initiatives. In 2015, the total demand for magnesium in Japan was about 38,000 tons; the amount of magnesium for auto parts was 5,900 tons. There are various potential materials for automotive parts, such as high tensile strength steel, aluminum alloys, and synthetic resins. We are taking action to expand the demand for magnesium alloys and to study current needs and issues to maximize the good properties of magnesium alloys. The largest application of magnesium alloys is related to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it occurs throughout the entire life cycle of automotive parts, including raw magnesium alloy ingot production, part processing, transportation, and recycling from production lines and scrap vehicles.
The production of magnesium alloy die castings for automobiles is expected to grow rapidly. The Japan Magnesium Association plans to expand the application requirements of this industry from 2018. The report will also reveal the relevant know-how of the Japan Magnesium Association members.
7. The third-generation Ford F-150 die-cast magnesium alloy radiator bracket
Jon Weiler, Meridian Lightweight Technologies
Three successive generations of Ford F-150 large trucks have been equipped with die-cast magnesium alloy radiator brackets. From model years 2004 to 2016, Meridian Lightweight Technologies designed and cast magnesium alloy radiator brackets for more than 5 million F-150 light trucks. Each generation of radiator bracket design has evolved, resulting in lightweight, thin-faced components: 7.3kg in 2004, 3.0kg in 2009, and 2.8kg in 2015. The lightweighting process is due in part to improved design, corrosion inhibition and modular assembly strategies, as well as technological advancements in each generation. This presentation summarizes the design and challenges of each generation of components, and the countermeasures in subsequent components.
Special Session 3: China Special
8. China's magnesium alloy research and development and application projects
Pan Fusheng, Chongqing University/National Engineering Technology Research Center for Magnesium Alloy Materials
As a lightweight material with the most development potential, magnesium alloy has been highly valued by the Chinese government and has been included in the national medium and long-term scientific and technological development plan, as well as China's thirteenth five-year scientific and technological innovation and development plan. In the past ten years, the application of magnesium alloys in China has increased by as much as 10 times, and at the same time, a large number of magnesium alloy deep processing enterprises have developed rapidly and healthily. In addition, China's magnesium alloy product standard system is also tending to improve. For many years, China remained the world's largest producer of primary magnesium. During this period, China has also grown into the largest producer of magnesium alloy products.
At the beginning of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the central government implemented three related key projects, all of which were funded by the National Key Research and Development Program, to continue to vigorously support the development and application of magnesium alloy products. This speech briefly introduced a number of national scientific and technological research projects related to magnesium alloys, and mainly introduced the background, research objectives and content of the national key research and development plans for magnesium alloys. This speech also discussed the national magnesium alloy technology projects during the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan period, and predicted the development and application prospects of magnesium alloy products during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.
9. Magnesium alloy production and research of Aluminum Corporation of China
Xiao Yang, Chinalco Zhengzhou Light Metal Research Institute
The magnesium alloy production and research of Aluminum Corporation of China will be introduced, covering three units, including Zhengzhou Light Metal Research Institute, Luoyang Copper Co., Ltd. and Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. Zhengzhou Institute of Light Metals is one of the earliest units of magnesium alloy research, focusing on high-performance magnesium alloys and their applications in aerospace and military, such as ultra-light Mg-Li light alloys with a density less than or equal to 1.5g/cm3, its resistance to Tensile strength greater than or equal to 400 MPa, and high strength Mg-Zn-Zr (ZK60) wrought alloy. In addition, fluxless melting was also investigated in depth. Luoyang Copper Industry Co., Ltd. is an important enterprise of magnesium alloy plates, and its main products include AZ31, ZK60 and rare earth magnesium (ME20). In addition, research and development of twin roll casting, such as 7 × 600 mm magnesium strip. Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. mainly concentrates on the production of extruded and forged magnesium alloys, including a small amount of magnesium alloy smelted products.
10. A new process for high-speed forging of magnesium alloys – Uniforge
Shi Shujie, Pinda Technology Co., Ltd.
Uniforge is an innovative technology independently designed by Pinda Technology, which integrates the art of free forging and high-precision digital machine technology. Pinda Technology Co., Ltd. was established in Taiwan and has decades of experience in magnesium industry and mechanical design. The joint traditional hydraulic forging is inefficient and cannot be deep processed, and the Uniforge technology is completely different from this. With Uniforge, we can perform deep forgings (5 times the thickness of the magnesium plate) with different levels or boss heights, the magnesium crystals are finer, and therefore, the forgings are stronger.
11. Using T-R heat treatment to improve the heterogeneous properties of AZ31B wide coils
Cheng Sen, Yingkou Yinhe Magnesium Alloy Co., Ltd.
This speech introduces the requirements of the automotive industry, and the corresponding requirements and requirements are fulfilled by selecting qualified auto parts materials. When an OEM as a customer publishes a desired target value, whether it is a supplier of steel, aluminum, magnesium or carbon fiber, the corresponding target value needs to be met. This speech briefly describes the method of making aluminum-magnesium sheet as a qualified material for auto parts.
Special Session 4: China Special
12. Development Status and Market Prospects of China's Magnesium Industry in 2016
Dong Chunming, Shangqing Times Metal Information Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Against the background of slowing economic growth, China's magnesium industry is facing new challenges. This report covers the following four parts: the influence of the current Chinese economy on the magnesium industry and market; the globalization of China's magnesium import and export; the new progress of China's magnesium industry in the economic transition period; magnesium industry and market forecast.
13. Progress of Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Project and Technical and Economic Analysis after Operation
Yu Guoli, Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Industry Co., Ltd.
The Qinghai Salt Lake Magnesium Project is in the whole process of debugging. This presentation uses a practice-based techno-economic analysis and compares it with the design goals to illustrate that the project is good for environmental protection. From the aspects of raw material purification, dehydration, electrolysis, casting, etc., this speech combines the local power characteristics of Golmud City to describe energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and proposes a later optimization plan.
14. Application of magnesium alloy casting in FAW passenger car
Dr. Liu Haifeng, FAW Foundry Co., Ltd.
With the implementation of strict emission regulations, reducing vehicle weight and achieving the goal of reducing fuel consumption has become an important development trend. In the lightweight process, magnesium structural casting plays an important role. This presentation introduces the structure of the integral magnesium alloy casting seat, including the analysis, simulation, design, production and testing process, and also introduces the application of magnesium alloy on FAW buses.
According to the comparison of different production processes such as welding, die casting, semi-solid processing, etc., this speech discusses and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of die casting, and overcomes the disadvantages of the process through detailed simulation and door design of the vacuum system. To meet elongation and fluidity requirements, rare earth-containing AM50 production mounts were selected. This presentation describes in detail the filling procedure and the mechanical properties simulation with full consideration of gas entrapment and oxidation terms, and also introduces the structural CAE analysis method for different mechanical properties of different casting areas. Finally, the production, assembly and crash test of magnesium seat frame castings are introduced. Using a combination of casting simulation and structural analysis, the real-time controlled die casting process can meet the performance and mass production quality control requirements of magnesium castings. With the successful development of the new method, castings such as magnesium instrument beams and inner door panels have been applied in the next generation of FAW passenger cars.
15. Application of magnesium alloy parts in Chinese OEM electric vehicles
Kimi Zou, Mark Lacina, Brian
Ewing, Meridian Lightweight Technologies
This speech introduces the application of die-casting magnesium alloy components in a new generation of Chinese self-owned brand electric vehicles. In the early stages of design, considering the actual needs of electric vehicles, it was decided to design CCB magnesium parts and utilize magnesium material on the driver side. Combining the die-cast magnesium CCB material with several steel supports, the design of the components is completed. This design adopts the 'magnesium alloy + stamping bracket + plastic parts' module, which has the best comprehensive overall weight and cost advantages. The research results of this presentation show that vehicle lightweighting is crucial to the traditional vehicle and electric vehicle industries, and provides breakthrough points and development directions.
Session 5: Circular Economy and Process
16. Research on magnesium recycling within the EU
Martyn Alderman, European Commission, International Magnesium Association
In 2015, the European Union adopted materials systems analysis (MSA) to study magnesium and 27 other raw materials (DG-GROW). The materials covered in this study belong to the EU framework of critical materials (Critical Raw Materials or CRMs) for Europe, based on indicators that capture their economic importance and risk of supply disruptions. China is a concentrated producer of primary magnesium, which is the main reason why the EU classifies magnesium as a key raw material. Based on a 2012 MSA study, the authors identified only 21,600 tonnes of functional magnesium recovered, compared to 11,400 tonnes going to landfills and tailings. The IMA believes that these figures are a gross misrepresentation of the true status of magnesium recycling in the EU. Recycling is a core pillar of the circular economy. European and global policy makers are based on interventions to promote the efficiency of materials while having an accurate understanding of them